University of Greater Manchester
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04/11/2026
Student partners from the University of Greater Manchester’s Greater Manchester Business School (GMBS) have taken part in a knowledge exchange visit to King’s Business School in London, sharing innovative approaches to student partnership, research and improving the learning experience.
The visit, held on 30 October 2026, brought together students and academics from both business schools to explore how working in partnership can help shape education, develop new ideas and create opportunities for meaningful change.
Organised by Assistant Professor Nurun Nahar, who leads the GMBS Students as Partners panel, the visit gave GMBS students the opportunity to present their work to colleagues at King’s Business School and learn about initiatives taking place there.
The GMBS student partners shared their work evaluating assessment and feedback in block-mode learning, their research into assessment design principles across the Business School, and the development of the GMBS Block Toolkit.
The group also heard from King’s Business School’s I-LEAD team and KBS20 student representatives about projects designed to enhance employability, support authentic learning and improve the student experience.
A highlight was a presentation by I-LEAD student partners Fin McLean and Elliot Davey, who discussed their social mobility initiative supporting young people aged 16 to 18 to develop the skills and confidence needed for university and future careers. They also shared their ambitions for the initiative’s future development.
I-LEAD brings together academics, corporate partners, students and professional services colleagues to create opportunities for collaboration and connect learning with real-world experience.
For GMBS students, the visit provided a valuable opportunity to showcase their work, exchange perspectives with another leading business school and explore how student voices can influence decision-making and drive improvements in higher education.
Meysam Arabi Ashtiani, GMBS student partner and PhD researcher, said:
“ It was particularly inspiring to see how meaningful student engagement can contribute to positive change in higher education.”
Neila Kabli, GMBS student partner and doctoral researcher, added:
“It was a truly insightful experience learning about student partnerships, co-creation and shared decision-making. I’m looking forward to future collaborations!”
Iqra Razzaq, GMBS student partner, said:
“I enjoyed the opportunity to share our work with King’s Business School and also loved hearing their thoughts.”
Elene Idadze, King’s Business School (KBS20) student representative said:
"Really enjoyed being part of the conversation, exchanging perspectives and hearing so many thoughtful insights."
The visit was hosted by Professor Sally Everett, Director of I-LEAD and former Vice Dean of Education at King’s Business School. She said:
“We learnt a great deal from one another about shared decision-making, meaningful partnership and turning ideas into action. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of shared learning, fresh ideas and possibilities for future collaboration.”
The visit reflects Greater Manchester Business School’s commitment to giving students an active role in shaping their education, contributing to research and developing ideas that have a positive impact beyond the classroom.
By bringing students, academics and external partners together, initiatives such as Students as Partners help develop the collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are valuable in today’s business environment, while ensuring that student perspectives help inform the future of higher education.
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